Polamalu returns to practice one week after announcing retirement

Summer Stanley, age 5, gets an autograph from Navy inside linebacker Maika Polamalu. The 2014 Navy Football Fan Fest/Media Day was held Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis to introduce this years team to the media and fans.
(By Paul W. Gillespie, Staff / Baltimore Sun Media Group / August 2, 2014)

In a surprising turn of events, Navy linebacker Maika Polamalu returned to practice on Monday morning, one week after he retired due to medical reasons.

Polamalu was on the practice fields overlooking the Severn River in full pads and wearing his familiar No. 33 jersey during the first of two practices on Monday.

Head coach Ken Niumatalolo said Polamalu had retired voluntarily after consulting with his family about an undisclosed medical issue. Niumatalolo said the problem did not involve repeated concussions.

Polamalu underwent a battery of tests last week, all of which came up negative, and was cleared by team doctors to resume playing, Niumatalolo said.

“Everything medically was cleared so Maika decided to come back and we’re happy that he’s back,” Niumatalolo said.

Polamalu was running with the second team at inside linebacker on Monday morning. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder had been listed as a starter going into preseason camp.

Niumatalolo admitted he was concerned about having a player resume playing football after having being identified as haviing a medical issue that required testing and doctors review.

Last spring, freshman slotback Will McKamey died from a brain injury that had initially surfaced in high school. Several doctors cleared McKamey for football-related activities and he passed the physical that is required of all incoming midshipmen. Sources told The Capital that doctors affiliated with the Navy football program expressed enough concern that McKamey and his family were asked to sign a waiver before the youngster would be allowed to suit up and participate in contact drills.

“Of course I have reservations,” Niumatalolo said on Monday morning with regard to Polamalu. “The medical people cleared him. This is a decision he and his family have come to and I support them wholeheartedly.”

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